Garment



June 9, 1931.. 1-1..1. BARCLAY. SR 1,809,502

' 1 GARMENT Filed Jan- 7.- 1930 glwuentoz Haward J Barcl y, ierzz'ur Patented June 9, 1931 SVATES HOWARD JACOB BARCLAY, SR., OF SPRING CITY, PENNSYLVANIA.

GARMENT Application filed January 7, 1930. Serial No. 419,142.

This invention relates to garments; and more particularly, to improvements in the method of reinforcing and cutting the same.

The prime object is to reinforce that portion of the garment subject to the greatest strain, namely, where the seat and back portion join, and thus overcome the present objection to one piece under-garments.

At the present time, it is very common to w insert a gusset of elastic material at this point of strain, but it has been found that after several washings, the gusset loses its elasticity, and results in an unsightly bagginess.

Another objectis to produce the garment with the least loss of material in cutting and shaping the garment. It is preferred to produce this garment from tubular knitted material, but any other type of cloth can be utilized. I

Other objects will be disclosed in the specification and drawings forming a part of this application.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a rear elevation showing the first step in the cutting operation;

Figure 2 is a similar rear elevation showing the reinforcing strap secured in position;

Figure 3 is a rear elevation showing the seat gusset inserted, the third step in the operation;

Figure 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a section taken on line 55 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary elevation of the portion shown in Figure 5; and

Figure 7 is a perspective of a partially finished garment formed of tubular cloth.

Referring to the drawings, in which like parts are designated by similar numerals:

Numeral 8 designates the body of a garment having portions cut away to form arm holes 9 and 10, and top portion cut away to form a neck opening 11. A strip of material 12 is out from the rear of the garment, as

shown in Figure 1, and folded upon itself at 13, as shown in Figure 2, and secured at I the top at 14 to form a reinforcing strip 15. The reinforcing strip 15 is secured to the body of the garment 8 along its sides 16 and 17. Two gussets 18 and 19 are secured to the edges 20 and 21 resulting from the removal of the strip of material 12 and a slight shaping operation to more properly fit the body of the wearer.

The two gussets 18 and 19 overlap at the top and are secured to the folded reinforcing strip 15 at 22. This presents a double thickness of cloth at the point of greatest stress, and in reality, four layers a, b, c, and d, as shown in Figure 5.

A button 23 used to secure the overlap ping edge of the gussets 18 and 19 together. Additional V-shaped gussets 24 and 25 are usually inserted along the bottom 26 of the body of the garment 8, which form the leg portions 27 and 28 of the garment. shaped gussets 24 and 25 serve to further shape the garment in conformity with the body of the wearer.

Where tubular material is used, the material is folded as shown in Figure 7 and apertures 33, 34 and 35 formed therein. Aperture 35 will be much smaller than the opening 33 for reasonherein to be shown. At the same time, the strip 12 will be cut away. The garment will then be folded along broken line 36 and will take the position shown in Figurel. The strip 12 now occurs in the center of the garment instead of along the side, as shown in Figure 7 and may be folded upon itself and secured at 14,

as shown inFigure 2. Aperture '35, which had the appearance of an arm hole in Figure 7 in reality becomes the back of the neck piece 11, as shown in Figure 1, and the opening 33 becomes the front of the neck opening.

Straps 37 and 38, as shown in Figure 7 are secured together as are straps 37' and 38', thus forming the armholes 10 and 9, respectively. The material is split .at 29. The gussets 18 and 19 are then secured to the reinforcing strip 15 at the top in such a manner that at this point the gussets overlap each other forming a double thickness of material, as shown in Figure 5, and are then secured along the edges 20 and 21 to form the seat 30 of the garment. The V-shaped gussets 24 and 25 are then inserted and secured to form the leg portions 27 and 28 of the garment. It is obvious that the cutting and shaping may be done while the garment is in the folded position shown in Figure 7 This is optional as it may be done with equal facility when the same is in position shown in Figure 1. The front of the garment is finished in the usual manner along with the arm holes 9 and 10 and the neck portion 11.

The reinforcing strip 15, formed from the material constituting the body of the garment 8, serves to greatly strengthen that portion of the garment, and since the strip is integral with the rest of the garment, it is far superior to any reinforcing strip that might be inserted. Further, by securing the top of the gussets 18 and 19 to the folded portion 13, and overlapping the gussets 18 and 19, and securing the whole together, maximum strength is obtained, and at the same time, it is practically impossible for the gussets 18 and 19, or the strip 15 to tear.

What I claim is:

1. The method of reinforcing a garment comprising cutting a strip from the lower portion of the garment, folding the same upon the upper portion of the garment, securing it adjacent the top of the garment, and securing the bottom portion of the folded strip to the seat of the garment.

2. A garment comprising a back portion, a'reinforcing strip having a plurality of thicknesses, the bottom portion of said reinforcing strip unbroken, a seat in said garment, said seat secured to the unbroken portion of said reinforcing strip.

3. The method of making an undergarment from a tubular piece of material consisting in folding the piece of material flat, cutting a strip to form a reinforcing strip along one crease resulting from the fold, cutting openings at one end thereof along the creases to form neck openings, removing a piece of material between the openings previously formed to form arm holes, refolding the material along lines intermediate the previous fold, securing the opposite upper ends of the material forming the openings together to form arm holes and a neck opening, and folding the strip uponitself, securing the free end of the strip to the top of the garment to form a reinforcing strip.

4. A garment comprising a back portion, a plural ply longitudinal reinforcement formed by folding a strip upwardly against said back portion, and being stitched thereto, a plurality of gussets forming a seat, 0verlapping adjacent the fold of said strip, the overlapping portions of said gussets being secured to said strip at said fold.

5. A garment comprising a back portion, a plural ply longitudinal reinforcement formed by folding a strip, suitably cut from the lower portion of said garment, upwardly against said back portion, and being stitched 

